Rum (DanMachi - FGO Reincarnation Chapter 3)

For the past three months, life had been hell for Liliruca Arde.

Everyday had been a stressful life and death battle, were she had to survive Monster Parties made by The Fucking Asshole of a Level 3 from her Familia.

She had stopped trying to outlast, or kill all the monsters after the third day, and just focused on running away. She never succeeded.

Good news is that her Dexterity, followed by Agility, had risen far more in these months, than they ever had since she had gained a Falna.

She never succeeded. Michael would just appear and block her escape routes. He always provided her with a weapon with that Rare Skill of his to make them, but didn't let her leave till she killed all the monsters he gathered for her to fight. She would even attack him, to try and get a hit and use any distraction to run away.

Why the fuck did a drunkard have that good situation awareness? The Fucking Asshole would even avoid killing the monsters that attacked him, so she would be forced to do so.

Lili considered once giving up and just letting the monster eat her. Then she saw that Fucking Asshole's fucking smirk, and her hatred of Adventurers was rekindled anew. She would survive, she would grow stronger and kill him for what he put her through for his amusement.

At least that was her thoughts at the time. She would still rather escape than be in a direct fight.

Which is why her new Skill reflected that wish.

Into Dark. By walking into any shadowy area, Lili would be..."cloaked" for a better word by shadows, and become completely undetectable. On top of Cinder Ella, it was the perfect tool to never be caught again.

With silent footsteps that she tried to learn from escaping Michael, before he could get her in the mornings, she had been quieter than a mouse sneaking out of the Soma building. She had managed to make the monthly easily for a while now, and updated her Falna. Now she just needed to disappear till the next month.

She had been watching the door from a corner for the past hour. Unseen by anyone thus far. She didn't let out so much as a peep. She quietly, so, so quietly gulped as she saw Michael at the opposite corner of the room, drinking Soma alone, everyone giving him a wide berth.

Lili just needed to find the right moment. She was so close to the exist, but needed the door to open so she could slip out.

Come on...Come on...Come on...Come on! Someone. Anyone. Open the damn door and come in!

Of course her prayers weren't answered. The minutes ticked by, and Lili glanced nervously at The Fucking Asshole. He had his eyes closed, as he leaned back, enjoying the bliss of the divine liquor.

Loud laugh was followed by the Soma HQ's door swinging wide open, as a group of adventurers returned to cash in their earnings for the poison their God made.

Lili dashed. The opening was wide enough. She held to the shadows till they absolute last moment, then jumped out of the entrance between adventurers.

She was in the sun. She was free.

Liliruca Arde ran with a wide smile and tears in her eyes for freedom. Finally leaving the Familia building behind her, she could-

SMASH!

A hand burst through the corner of the building, just as she was about to leave the Soma building behind. Then with another crash, Lili realized she was dragged back in, through stone and mortar.

"Hello," a hiccup followed. "Half-Pint. Almost made it. Better luck in the next one."

Lili screamed in anguish.

=====

It was funny how sulky the pallum girl was.

From my experience, whenever I take an adventurer under my wing, the result are either, they focus on killing me, they focus on killing the monsters, or they focus on running away. With mixed results in between sometimes.

Half-Pint was mainly in the 'Run Away' category.

Which is the logical smart answer to being in a tough situation, but that's how gaining power in this world works. Those who do the illogical thing, and try and beat the Dungeon are the ones who gain power, if they survive long enough.

Those who try and kill me eventually realize it's fruitless. They can't beat me, they can't trick me, trap me, and they can't poison me. For the past 14 years I've been trying to "poison" myself to the best of my ability. I had yet to succeed. Did get a good buzz from it though.

I caught a knife thrown at me with my teeth, and spat it into my hand.

"Dammit." Half-Pint cursed once more as another attempt to sneakily get me failed.

Oh and she poisoned the knife too. Smart. Smart. Purge Engine didn't even paused before rolling over the stuff the knife was coated with.

There was a quake in the Dungeon as it felt like a stampede was coming up from the lower floors. The monsters around paused, feeling the new element entering the situation. Lili took noticed but never stopped as she stabbed another Dungeon Lizard through the skull.

The monsters started to retreat, signaling something more fierce about to arrive. Of course, any veteran knows, they don't actually retreat but hide away, so the adventurers would focus on the new threat, and then be ambushed by the weaker monster you thought ran away.

Sneaky little Dungeon-chan.

Swords were projected and finished off all the monsters around.

"Eh?" Lili looked at me like I was crazy.

"Get behind me." I tried to sound serious and intense. Not sure if it worked, but she listened all the same. I forced my addled mind to focus on the coming bit.

I would be fine, Half-Pint maybe not so.

I was correct as three Minotaurs charge into the chamber we were in.

A spear blasted through the head of the first. The other two stumbled. I dash into the personal space of the second and stabbed through the mouth and brain of the cow head.

The sword was stuck.

The last Minotaur charged at me, and I slipped to the side of it. Grabbing it's outstretched arm, I pulled it aside, and slammed a closed back hand into it's stomach. Hard.

It heaved and coughed, spitting everywhere. While it was half kneeling and holding it's stomach, I projected another sword and cut its head off.

"And done." I turned to see Half-Pint looking at me like she never saw me before. "What?" I didn't bother trying to understand her. I projected a sharp knife and tossed it to her. "Go ahead and cut out their magic stones. Today is your lucky day considering how much those make."

Half-Pint caught the knife and went back to her usual glaring.

Magic Stones cut out and collected, I figured we might as well leave early for the day, if there was more monster stampedes from the lower levels.

Before I could give Lili the good news, a childish shriek was coming closer and closer toward us, as I saw a rookie adventurer covered in blood, turn a corner and was heading toward the path of the exit.

Lili chuckled, and I was about to do the same, if it wasn't for one thing.

His white hair.

Olga The first person that came to mind was instantly dismissed. My mind shouldn't have been able to connect who he reminded me of.

"Meteria."

Yet for some reason my foggy brain pulled out the name of a person, out of the haystack that is my head, that I've only ever met once. A long, long meeting.

Seriously fuck you, brain.

Also Ais Wallenstein was here and talking to me for some reason.